McConnell says US must act quickly to aid Iraq

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, shown in September, has spoken against a proposed constitutional amendment that would limit campaign spending. He said that nothing less than the First Amendment right to free speech is at stake.
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But the Kentucky Republican stopped short of saying what U.S. assistance to Baghdad should look like.

"The administration must act quickly to provide assistance to the Maliki government before every gain made by U.S. and allied troops is lost, and before ISIL expands its sanctuary - from which it can eventually threaten the United States," McConnell said in Senate floor remarks.

McConnell was a strong supporter of President George W. Bush's decision to invade Iraq and of the subsequent war that ensued.

The Senate GOP leader opposed the complete withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, which was completed in December 2011.

"The Iraqi security forces that cowered in the face of ISIL advances are now less capable than when the president withdrew the entirety of our force without successfully negotiating a capable remaining U.S. presence," McConnell said Tuesday. "Such a force would have preserved the gains made on the ground by mentoring our partners and assisting with command and control and intelligence sharing."

President Barack Obama met with his national security team Monday evening to discuss what the White House called "a range of options that could help support Iraq and counter the threat from ISIL."

He also notified Congress that about 275 U.S. military personnel are being deployed to Iraq to protect Americans and the U.S. embassy in Baghdad.

McConnell is running for re-election to a sixth term.

His Democratic opponent, Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, said last week she opposed putting U.S. troops back into Iraq.

"Ultimately, this fight is up to the people of Iraq," Grimes said in a statement. "I would not support the United States reintroducing troops in Iraq. The United States should continue to play a supportive role by providing useful intelligence."